Banknote France 50 Cents - Chamber of Commerce - Corrèze - 1915

This 50 centime note was issued in 1915 by the Chamber of Commerce of Tulle, located in the Corrèze department, France. It is an emergency issue, a type of fiat money issued locally during times of crisis or shortage of official currency.

The obverse of the note features the following inscriptions: "CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE TULLE (Corrèze)" at the top, followed by the face value "50 CENTIMES" in the center. Below, we find the mentions "Le Président" and "Le Trésorier", indicating those responsible for the issue. The mention "Septième émission" specifies that this is a particular series among the Chamber of Commerce's issues.

The reverse of the note bears the inscription "Ce billet, toujours échangeable... ... avant le 31 décembre 1920.", specifying the deadline for exchanging the note. It also includes the mention "La contre-valeur de ce billet est déposée au Trésor.", ensuring the guarantee of its value. The name of the printer, "IMP. P. DUMONT. LIMOGES", is also indicated.

The note incorporates a watermark representing bees, a symbol often associated with work and industry. The printing company Pierre Dumont, located in Limoges, was responsible for the production of this note.

This type of note testifies to the economic and social context of the First World War, where emergency issues were common to compensate for the lack of cash and facilitate local exchanges. The presence of official mentions and repayment guarantees aimed to ensure public confidence in this alternative currency.